Sister Act 3

Sister Act 3

Replacing Whoopi Goldberg and Lauryn Hill in Sister Act 3 will be my mother, Aunt Becky and Aunt Katie due to a conflict in schedule with Ms. Goldberg and Ms. Hill. This sequel is sure to be as funny and entertaining as the first two, because it's rich with deep southern love, gentleness and care. With a cameo appearance by my loving grandmother, Manute. She's sure to delight the audience with her high pitched voice and her inquiring mind which might teeter on being nosy. This is a family comedy that stresses the importance of family and sharing. They'll take you on their travels to Niagara Falls, northern migration and reflect on their life in the deep south. With hysterical banter from Grandma Nute this is sure to be the comedy of the year. Please check local media guides to find out what theaters are premiering this G-rated family comedy. Sister Act 3 is sure to grab top honors this week at the box office.

Brotherly Love

Brotherly Love

My eldest brother Tony introduced us to football. And my brother Steve and I ran with it. He was the quarterback and I was the wide receiver. Tony taught us how to run pass routes and other techniques. Tony bought us a Nerf football and the rest is history. Steve and I connected for touchdown plays like AT&T connects customers. We played down the man, backyard football, and street football. We used to challenge other streets and neighborhoods to games and we'd demolish them. I'd catch a minimum of 7 touchdowns a game. And it wasn't because of my speed that I caught so many TD's, but due to my savvy, precise route running and timing with my quarterback. We'll go down in the football annals as the best combination, better than Montana to Rice, better than Marino to Clayton and Duper, better than Aikman to Irvin and of course better than McNabb to T.O. who by the way could use some brotherly love.

Up, Up and Away

Up, Up and Away

Basketball wasn't my first passion, football and baseball were. One of my elementary school friends, the late Sebastian Greene, encouraged me to play for the Collinwood Community Team under Coach Buddy King. Buddy as everyone affectionately called him, would come from crosstown, pick us up twice a week in his van and take us crosstown to play in league games. He'd also make us bring toothbrushes, deodorant and other toiletries as he was teaching more than basketball. Although I had few tangible skills, I dominated in my first game with height, hardwork and hustle. This put me on the basketball map. But due to Buddy's decision of demoting me to second-stringer I decided to opt out of playing hoops. It wasn't until Kevin Windham needed another player for halfcourt basketball during Rec time, that I even thought about playing again. I played so well that day, he made sure I played basketball instead of playing tag. It was then that I decided to give hoops another chance. I rejoined Buddy's team as a second-stringer. The next year rolled around and we had a basketball team at Margaret Spellacy Junior High School which caused some excitement on my behalf. The only problem was I didn't go out for the team. I decided playing basketball wasn't worth being chased home, jumped and called derogatory names by white folk. So, I decided to continue to play with Buddy while my other friends made the Spellacy team and took the abuse and other things that went alongwith going to school in a white neighborhood. Since the Speallacy team was new and about to start the season in a few weeks they decided to scrimmage the Collinwood Community Team in the old church on Aspinwall. I lit up the nets from deep with long J's and destroyed them with dribble drives on that Saturday morning. On Monday morning the Spellacy coach, Coach Fazekas asked me if I was interested in joining the team. Within a week I became a starter. I went on to become Co-MVP that same year. That summer I worked hard at polishing my game and ever since then it's been up, up and away.

Humble Beginnings

Humble Beginnings

My mother took us to Hatchechubbee, Alabama black to the house she was raised in. I know you're probably asking yourself, "where's Hatchechubbee?" Well, you won't find Hatchechubbee on any map. It's one of those small towns known for dirt roads, sharecropping and lynching black folks. My grandfather, Lee Dawson, realizing the great opportunities, sharecropping and the potential for lynchings held, he decided to venture up south to Cleveland, Ohio.

Makkan Moves

Makkan Moves

Retracing the steps of the revered Hagar and Ishmael, I drank from the same spring that God provided for them in their time of desperation and need. Moving between the valleys and feeling the presence of the prophets of old and taking in the landscape and reflecting on the history of this place caused an epiphany. The surreal became real. Reflecting on the Sacred House (Ka'ba) built by the noble Abraham and his noble son, Ishmael. Remembering that the honored Jesus roamed in this wilderness during his 40 day absence. Realizing that I was following the prophetic model of making my way to the Sacred House renewed me with a sense of serenity and certainty. Spiritual exhiliration and illumination overcame me. An intensity of my grandparents prayers, hopes and aspirations being fulfilled. A wonderful spirit enveloped and comforted me, which led me to continue following the path of the prophets as I made my Makkan moves.

Family

Family

How does one begin to articulate family and its importance. Starting with the mindset of children is an excellent place to begin. A sibling welcomes the newborn and commences to teaching them language, habits, and traditions. But moreover than these matters they partake in the care, concern and protection of the new addition. They initiate the younger sibling into all of the nuances of family and societal life with love and responsibility. Even during their play time there are teaching moments. How to make a snowball, how to make an angel in the snow, how to play jacks and hopscotch and so many other how to's. Family is love and connectedness and a host of other fascinating intangibles. Often whilst passing through life, we add on to our family by the people we meet and who by their love, concern and connectedness become family as well.